- Thursday, September 25, 2014
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Photo taken from locallinxmarketing |
The rapid changes in technology completely
alter the way we do things and, as this is being written, the changes are super
fast and ongoing.
However, there are positive changes that
technology has already made obvious in relation to the way companies and brand
relate to us.
Social
The brands became social. It became a
person that talks to us. It became a friend sitting besides us. It is now a
personality that we love or hate.
Engage
Brands and companies are not anymore
passive objects. They are animated. They engage us whenever they can. Their
engagement is now at the point that they are almost in every corner of our
lives. We see them and we cannot escape from them.
This is what is meant by the rise of omni channel.
Connected
The data that technology can provide about
us are enormous. The data and the technology platforms have allowed brands
and companies to be connected in the markets they are operating.
The data produced gave out blueprints to
our current behaviors. On the other hand, technology provided the means to
harness the benefits of these blueprints. The brands and companies did not
waste any time in harvesting these benefits.
Connectedness is one of these benefits.
Informed
We are now called Prosumers – proactive
consumers. This became possible because of the explosion of information.
We are now getting information more than we
have 10 years ago. This is progress. This is power within our hands.
Rewarded
The proliferation of Loyalty and Rewards
Program is aided by technology. We are enjoying the special attention given by
brands and companies. We are now rewarded. These rewards are delivered to us by
means of technology.
In summary, these five important things are
inherent in the technology developed. For loyalty and rewards program managers
and marketers it is now more compelling to maximize the technology.
Lastly, if all things being equal in terms
of technology usage, loyalty and rewards manager and marketers must push their
creative minds to be surprisingly different.
Indeed, it is an exciting time.
- Wednesday, September 24, 2014
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Photo Taken from Finistics |
What you cannot measure you
cannot achieve. Activities are trivial what is important are the results. These
wise adages in the management circles are often heard but seldom practiced.
Event Management Companies
who love data but do not know how to make sense of it is doom to failure or are
searching miserably on how things that are so lacking with their companies but
fail to notice that it is right at the tip of their nose.
Key Performance Indicators
(KPI) is very important. It establishes the important data that event
management professionals need to check and monitor. In events, some KPI for
financials would be Net Profit and Gross Margin, in sales and marketing would
be Market Growth Rate and there are a lot of KPIs that are available online
which you can choose from to create your own business intelligence and
dashboard.
Even during operations,
event management professionals can use these KPIs. One would be Time to Finish,
Capacity Utilization Rate and Quality Index.
Again, there are a lot of
KPIs to choose from and in accordance to what fits to an event management
company’s needs.
Lastly, in our event
management company it was observable that the moment KPIs are established and
agreed upon a surge of quality outputs were achieved, proving that KPIs help
members of the organization become focus and accountable.
Herein lies the power of
KPIs that not only event management companies must use but other companies as
well.
- Friday, September 19, 2014
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If you are on a budget and cannot hire an event management company,
here are some basic tips in planning your own event:
What are you planning to achieve in creating your event. A lot of
clients I talked with sometimes cannot identify the goals and objectives of the
event they wanted to implement. Most of the time, this can spell trouble
because how can you say that an event is successful if you do not know the
goals and objectives for its creation.
2. Create Your Event Management Team
You cannot do it alone. You need to create a team that will handle
the following: finance, logistics, program, visitor invitation, venue
coordination, sales and marketing.
3. Finalize the Venue and the Date
Often times the reason for the failure of the event to materialize
is because there is no definite venue and date. In our industry, if you are
already committed to the venue and date there is no turning back. I recommend
that you sign the contract with the venue. If you do this then the die is cast,
the pressure is on to make the event happen and make it successful.
4. Create a Master Plan
The master plan should contain the Gantt chart that will identify
the milestones of the event in a particular period of time in order to ensure
the event is implemented successfully. In addition, establish the Critical
Success Areas (CSA) that your event must have.
5. Finalize the Budget
The budget is critical in the sense that it is your guide to what
shape your event will take during the actual day. Resources are limited and
most of the times budget and vision must be weigh judiciously.
We do not want an event that is losing money.
6. Establish the Administrative Process
So you a one man team that gathered different suppliers and departments
to help you. This will be tough if you will not identify the administrative
process. The process acts the rules of engagement of all members involved in
the event.
You need to promote your event to attract your target audience. Your
promotion mix is dependent on your budget.
Sometimes if you event is so niche you just need a database and
social media to accomplish the number of audience you wanted your event to
have.
You can ensure the success of your event if you will tap
associations or community organizations as partner of your event.
The more partners you have the better the success ratio of your
event.
You must have this in order for you to have record of what has
transpired in your event. This will also serve as a benchmark for future
similar events.
The post event assessment is necessary to learn more about how to
make your event better the next time around. After the assessment ensure you
create a terminal report that will serve as the document to which future event
management staff can read and review to avoid mistakes and apply best
practices.
Although not exhaustive, these 10 items can already guide you in
implementing a successful event.
Good luck to your event management endeavor.
- Friday, September 19, 2014
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Photo taken from Manila Standard Today Online |
Today in Manila Standard Today one of the news that
caught may attention is Cebuana Lhuillier’s awarding their 5-millionth loyalty
card member the following:
P50, 000 in cash, P1 million worth of insurance coverage from
Cebuana Lhuillier Insurance Solutions, the insurance arm of Cebuana Lhuillier,
and an additional P20, 000 worth of prizes.
Just how much value this action gives to Cebuana
Lhuillier’s Brand - definitely, a lot of Brand Mileage and Customer Love.
Although, awarding or treating a customer
because of him or her being a milestone member of a company’s program is not
unique but still it is effective and a winner in terms of capturing the heart of the customers.
This action is very effective because it shows how thankful
the company like Cebuana Lhuillier to its customers.
This thankfulness anchored in the Loyalty and
Rewards Program of the company shows to the loyal customers that they are IMPORTANT.
Again, kudos to Cebuana Lhuillier may you
continuously enhance your Loyalty and Rewards Program to benefit your millions
of customers.
- Wednesday, September 17, 2014
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